When we proceed with passion, our students become fully engaged in their own education and we recover a sense of meaning, purpose, and joy in our lives.

Paul Cummins

COLLEGE READINESS

Guided by the University of California A - G Requirements, our inquiry and project-based approach creates opportunities for students to gain insight and understanding of the ideas, discoveries, and movements that have shaped our world. Graduates of Opus 119 will not only be prepared to enter the nation’s top universities, but will also possess the skills needed to effectively get the most out of the college experience. These are the same skills valued by employers and crucial for success in today’s world.

NEW TECHNOLOGY​

Technology is a valuable tool. It is essential for today’s students to become skilled in its use across the curriculum. Our program encourages development in the use of technology for communication, design, research, and meaningful collaboration. We also recognize its impact in the realm of entertainment. As we keep a constant eye on shifting students from “consumers” to “producers,” we want to equip them with skills in the new frontiers of science and cutting-edge technology.

THE ARTS

Development in the Arts is critically important. Our students’ passions are not only supported, but enthusiastically encouraged. Our programs provide enriched exposure to the arts, including a well-rounded music program, drama and spoken word intensives, graphic design, and dance. Our flexible scheduling also allows students to focus on courses relevant to their needs, freeing up time to pursue their dreams.

DESIGN THINKING

Developing critical thinking is an essential underlying principle of our approach. Regurgitating facts and rote memorization is not our focus. To this end, we seek to assist students in developing their process for design. Woven throughout the curriculum at Opus are opportunities identifying and solving problems. Making observations, generating questions, researching, brainstorming ideas, prototyping, testing, and iterating are crucial steps for innovation. Embracing failure as a pathway for improvement must not only be allowed, but encouraged.

COMMUNICATION LITERACY

The 21st Century requires a new responsibility to broaden our perspective when it comes to communication. The written word is one of many ways in which we narrate, inform, and persuade. How does the architecture of a restaurant, the layout of an infographic, or the packaging of a bag of dog food also express its author’s intent? Opus students will learn that everything is “made.” It has an audience and a purpose and utilizes specific conventions, symbols, and techniques. Students will learn to see themselves as producers and not simply consumers of the world around them as they acquire the skill to communicate through a variety of means.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Studies around sustainability broaden and deepen our students’ understanding of the immediate and long-term issues facing our natural world. This includes an exploration of resource allocation and management. By partnering with leading non-profits in the field, our students are challenged to exercise practical and creative thinking -- thinking that can lead to both low- and high-tech solutions.

EXHIBITION

Art is put on display for the public to observe. Music is performed in front of an audience. However, thinking and learning is tested individually and in isolation. At Opus119, we seek to provide authentic audiences for students across the curriculum. Our students’ work and processes are consistently observed by both the school and greater community so they may receive critical feedback that informs thinking, improves results, and fine tunes their approach to design.

MINDSETS

It’s not enough to simply become “well educated.” What about the character and fabric of the humans we teach? At Opus, we’re dedicated to developing mindsets that lead to successful work and personal relationships, that assist in developing lasting processes for problem solving, and that build empathy, compassion, and integrity in our community.